Travel container, system, kit, and method

Abstract

A travel container, system, kit, and method for carrying flowable materials onto a commercial airline are presently provided. The travel container has an outer wall with a top opening and a bottom opening and a maximum fill capacity of 3.4 ounces or at least one measure demarcation on the outer wall. The at least one measure demarcation demarks at most 3.4 ounces of flowable materials in the travel container. The travel kit has a carrier with a volume of at most one quart and is configured to hold and carry each of the travel containers.

1 . A travel container configured for carrying flowable materials onto a commercial airline, the travel container comprising:
 an outer wall with a top opening and a bottom opening;   wherein the top opening is configured and disposed to dispense the flowable materials from the travel container and the bottom opening is configured and disposed to receive the flowable materials into the travel container;   a removable cap configured to engage an upper portion of the outer wall and prevent the flowable materials from exiting the top opening;   a removable closure configured to engage a lower portion of the outer wall and prevent the flowable materials from exiting the bottom opening;   a maximum fill capacity of 3.4 ounces or at least one measure demarcation, demarking at most 3.4 ounces, on the outer wall;   wherein the at least one measure demarcation indicates at least one of a fill volume and a volume of the flowable material contained in the travel container.   
     
     
         2 . The travel container of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one measure demarcation is proximate the bottom opening and indicates a fill volume, upon the removable closure being removed and the travel container being oriented with the bottom opening above the top opening. 
     
     
         3 . The travel container of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one measure demarcation is proximate the top opening and indicates the volume of the flowable material contained in the travel container, upon the travel container being oriented with the top opening above the bottom opening. 
     
     
         4 . The travel container of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one measure demarcation is permanently etched into, and is part of, the travel container outer wall. 
     
     
         5 . The travel container of  claim 1  comprising at least two measure demarcations, wherein at least one of the measure demarcations demarks at most 3.4 ounces of flowable materials in the travel container. 
     
     
         6 . The travel container of  claim 1  comprising at least one area configured and disposed for an indication of a type of the flowable material contained in the travel container. 
     
     
         7 . The travel container of  claim 1 , wherein the removable bottom closure is configured to slide onto a portion of the outer wall proximate the bottom opening, sliding perpendicularly to an axis extending from the top opening to the bottom opening. 
     
     
         8 . The travel container of  claim 7 , wherein the removable bottom closure has a cylindrical “C” shaped portion extending about a centrally extending rod. 
     
     
         9 . The travel container of  claim 8  comprising an oblong cam shaped feature configured to compress the outer wall against the “C” shaped portion and seal the bottom opening closed. 
     
     
         10 . The travel container of  claim 1 , wherein the removable bottom closure has a pinching mechanism configured for pinching the outer wall and closing the bottom opening. 
     
     
         11 . The travel container of  claim 1  further comprising a compression seal, foldable flap, washer, or disk configured to seal the removable cap about the top opening. 
     
     
         12 . The travel container of  claim 1  further comprising a removable insert configured to be inserted into the top opening, the removable insert has a selected sized opening therein. 
     
     
         13 . The travel container of  claim 12 , wherein the removable insert is configured to be inserted and held in the top opening by threadingly engaging the removable insert with the outer wall about the top opening. 
     
     
         14 . The travel container of  claim 13 , wherein the removable insert has a slot detent in an upper surface thereof, thus configuring the removable insert to be rotated and threadingly engaging the outer wall about the top opening. 
     
     
         15 . A travel kit configured for carrying flowable materials onto a commercial airline, the travel kit comprising:
 at least one travel container comprising:   an outer wall with a top opening and a bottom opening;   wherein the top opening is configured and disposed to dispense the flowable materials from the travel container and the bottom opening is configured and disposed to receive the flowable materials into the travel container;   a removable cap configured to engage an upper portion of the outer wall and prevent the flowable materials from exiting the top opening;   a removable closure configured to engage lower portion of the outer wall and prevent the flowable materials from exiting the bottom opening; and   a maximum fill capacity of 3.4 ounces or at least one measure demarcation, demarking at most 3.4 ounces, of flowable materials in the travel container;   the kit further comprising a carrier having a volume of at most one quart; and   wherein the carrier is configured to hold and carry each of the at least one travel container.   
     
     
         16 . The travel kit of  claim 15  further comprising at least one removable insert configured to be inserted into the top opening, the removable insert has a selected sized opening therein. 
     
     
         17 . The travel kit of  claim 16  comprising a first removable insert having a first sized opening therein and a second removable insert having a second sized opening therein, wherein the first sized opening is different than the second sized opening. 
     
     
         18 . The travel kit of  claim 15 , wherein the carrier has flexible or foldable wall. 
     
     
         19 . The travel kit of  claim 18 , wherein the carrier is configured to be reduced in volume to a volume proximate to each of the travel containers held therein. 
     
     
         20 . The travel kit of  claim 15 , wherein the carrier has a volume of one quart and an outer demarcation indicating the volume of the carrier to be one quart.